One of the highest vaccination rates in the EU has not prevented soaring omicron cases in Spain. The enormous wave is not only causing hospitalizations to rise; it is overwhelming another pillar of the country's health care system: primary health care services.
With the rapid spread of the omicron variant looming, Germany's political leaders have agreed a package of stricter limits to social contacts in a bid to protect the country's strained health care system. The rules will be introduced after Christmas.
Scientists are racing to assess the threat from a new coronavirus variant omicron, which was first detected in South Africa. Authorities have since confirmed cases in several countries, including Germany.